Pet allergy

Diagnosis

To help diagnose appendicitis, a healthcare professional will likely take a history of symptoms and examine the abdomen.

Tests used to diagnose appendicitis include:

• Physical exam. A healthcare professional may apply gentle pressure on the painful area. When the pressure is suddenly released, appendicitis pain will often feel worse. This is because of inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity, called the peritoneum.
• A care professional also may look for abdominal stiffness and a tendency to flex the abdominal muscles in response to pressure over the inflamed appendix. This is called guarding.